Dressed

Basically the only reliable chain salad lunch option in Bangkok, Dressed keeps health-conscious eaters coming back thanks to huge portions that don’t skimp on the proteins and a high level of flavor in most of the salads. Choose from the menu or go it alone with the DIY salad list. They also dish out a selection of wraps, paninis, pastas and soups.

The buzz: This newly-arrived American salad café franchise puts the focus on health-conscious eating. The concept is simple: control your calorie intake by creating your own salads, wraps or pasta. Otherwise, you can select from their à la carte menu for chef-designed sandwiches and paninis. You can be sure all items are freshly made-to-order, too, thanks to their open kitchen.

The décor: Situated on the first floor of Mercury Ville mall, the place is conveniently sat just off the BTS Chidlom skywalk. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, the monochrome interior does benefit from plenty of sunlight. In contrast with the neutral setting, kitchen staff are clad in bright orange and green uniforms. The ceiling is adorned with three giant-sized brand logos, resembling cucumbers, made of blond wood.

The food: Sticking to local produce, the menu here offers both à la carte and create-your-own options. Have fun customizing your salad or wrap with their choice of five green leaf choices, 76 toppings and 23 dressings. You can also leave it to the experts by opting for the best-selling tuna salad (B349), a mesclun mix with seared tuna, grilled asparagus, red pepper, carrot, white mushroom, tomato and chipotle vinaigrette with a hint of avocado dressing. Other salads include the Southwest Chicken (B209/219/259), Detox Antidote (B189/199/229) and chicken cordon bleu (B199/209/249). Their artisan sandwich menu also keeps things creative with options like curried mango chutney and turkey (B290) and BLT with avocado and fried egg (B220) on multigrain bread (sliced to order to maintain freshness). Their panini come in flavorful combinations like chili-lime chicken (B149) and grilled steak (B229) stuffed with crumbled blue cheese and chipotle aioli. The place also offers two surprise soups of the day (B125), so call ahead for their tasty flavors like cream of broccoli.

The drinks: The main attraction, their creamy smoothies, come in two sizes: small (B69) and large (B89). Try unique flavors such as gingered pear and minted avocado or stick to more standard choices like Bella Berry and Mango Tango. They have bottled beverages for on-the-go, too, as well as tea bags from American brand Harney & Sons (B80). They also serve all your usual choice of coffees (from B80).

The crowd: Office workers from nearby buildings and expat residents looking for a healthier food alternative.